April Schueths, Ph.D., honored with statewide CASA Leadership Award
Georgia Southern University Sociology Professor April Schueths, Ph.D., has been named the recipient of the 2026 CASA Board Member Leadership Award by the Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Honored at the annual Georgia CASA Conference in Atlanta, the distinction recognizes her long-standing service and exceptional contributions to child advocacy.
Schueths has served on the board of directors for Child Advocacy Services SEGA, Inc. (CASSEGA), for the last decade, including the last five years as board chair. Schueths’ tenure as board chair has been instrumental in spearheading strategic fundraising, modernizing organizational policies and ensuring equitable support for youth across the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit.
The CASA network relies on trained community volunteers to represent the best interests of children in the foster care system. CASSEGA supports foster children in the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, which includes Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins and Screven counties.
“I’m honored to receive the Board Leadership Award from Georgia CASA,” Schueths said. “I’m so proud of the work our CASSEGA team does every day to make sure children have a voice.”
Schueths leverages her clinical background as a practicing social worker and her academic research to strengthen local human services. At Georgia Southern, she prepares undergraduate sociology students for careers in public service through courses in social welfare policy, counseling skills and introductory social services.
According to CASSEGA leadership, her dual role as an educator and advocate has significantly expanded the organization’s reach and operational stability.
“Dr. Schueths brings a combination of scholarly insight and hands-on community care to the organization,” said Julie Pickens, Ph.D., executive director of CASSEGA. “Her rare ability to move seamlessly between policy leadership, academic scholarship and direct community engagement makes her an invaluable asset.”